Mail-marking machine



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

G .E.BA 'R-N ARD. -MAIL MARKING MAG HINE- No, 501,816. Pat nte -Jul 18,1893.

a 1 Q Q Q o I (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. E.'BARNARD. MAIL MARKING MACHINE.

No. 501,816. Patented July 18;1893,

(No Model.)

4 sums-she t a. G. E. BARN-ARI). MAIL MARKING MACHINE.

Patented J y '18, 1.8931

"km N I Illll III R b U ITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

GEORGE E. BARNARD, OF FITOHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAIL-MARKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,816, dated July 18, 1893. Application filed October 19,1892. Senallle.449,339. on model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BARNARD, of Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusettshave inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Marking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the ple, accurate and easily operated making the initial cost, as well as the cost of running, very low.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be now described and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation looking at the lower side of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking down on the machine at such an angle as to show the shafts in end elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the delivery end looking toward the opposite end. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the bearing for the platen cylinder. Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of the printing die. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic detail view illustrating on an exaggerated scale the difierence in the level of the belt pulleys.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The framing of the machine, lettered A in the drawings, may be of any approved character, and upon it are mounted inclined sills or timbers B, preferably supported by iron brackets or angles B and carrying yokes or bearings 0 provided with journal boxes for I the shafts C supporting the carrying belt pulleys. These shafts are arranged at the same inclination as the sills 13,216., about forty-five degrees, and one of them, preferably that at the delivery end isemployed as a drive shaft, receivingits motion from a power mechanism to be presently specifically described.

The carrying belt E passes around pulleys carried by theshafts C- and at a point between the shafts, preferably near the drive shaft are arranged standards F adapted to carry the printing mechanism, in position to operate upon the mail matter carried by the belt.

The printing mechanism itself consists essentially of a rotary impression surface or die G G mounted on an inclined transverse shaft held in bearings in standardsF and driven by gear Wheels 9 g meshing with each other and mounted respectively on the die shaft and drive shaft. The gears are so proportioned that the surface speed of the die or impression surface and belt are the same in order to secure perfect impressions. A platen or bed roller H is journaled in movable boxes h mounted in oblong openings in standards F in position to support the belt immediately below the die, said roller being held up to its place with a yielding pressure by means of springs h (Fig. 4) bearing against the ends of the roller shaft Where they are retained by loosewashers 7L To increase the elasticity of the roller it is preferably provided with a thick rubber band or covering H as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The belt pulleys, &c., it will be seen from the foregoing, are inclined transversely, or in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of the belt, that is to say, the belt being flat, one edge is higher than the other and letters deposited on the belt will slide down to the lower side orv edge and as the belt moves longitudinally, they will be carried toward one end of the machine.

Above the die and carried by a bearing I ing roller from the die as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, to allow the type to be cleaned,

changed or inspected, and the said shaft receives its motion through a pulley Z driven by a belt Z from a pulley Z on the die shaft. A feather and groove connection is provided between the said pulley Z and shaft, for which purpose a longitudinal slot is formed in the shaft and a key it working in the same locks IO the pulley and shaft against independent rotation. The pulley being on the lower side of the machine, would tend to slide down to the end of the shaft to prevent which it has a groove 70 formed in its hub and the bear I5 ing I has a spring catch 70 engaging in this groove as shown in Fig. 3. To hold the inking wheel and shaft in elevated position while inspecting the type, a spring k may be located on the shaft and adapted to enter the hub of the pulley Z and create sufficient friction when the shaft is pushed up to hold the parts elevated. The lower end of the shaft K forms a handle extension by which the shaft and ink roller may be moved up to the posi- 2 5 tion shown in dotted lines, as will be readily understood.

The circumference of the inking roller is preferably made one sixth larger than the circumference of the circle described by the die 0 and the driving pulleys are so proportioned as to give the same circumferential speed, the result being that the surface of the inking roller is acted on successively throughout instead of being struck at the same point every 35' fifme the die is brought into contact therewith, as would be the case if both were the same size.

I prefer to employ a single die adapted to markthe outgoing or incoming mail matter, to which end the die has two separate printing surfaces G G, the wider or longer surface shown in Fig. 6, being for the purpose of marking outgoing mail and canceling the stamps and that shown in Fig. 7 for marking incoming mail. Were the die mounted concentrically on the shaft, it is obvious both surfaces would be brought into action at each rotation, to prevent which, the said die is adapted to be shifted into eccentric position throwing one or the other of the surfaces out as desired. Various mechanical devices might be employed to accomplish this but I prefer to form a simple rectangular opening G2 through the die its greatest length being in line with the'two impression surfaces and fit the same on a squared portion or bushing G on the shaft.

A collar G having a pin or pins G adapted to co-operate with one or the other of the holes G in the die, serves to hold the die in one or the other of its positions of adjustment; The die may be held "up against the collar by a nut G as shown in Fig. 3, if desired.

M-uchdifficulty has been heretofore experienced in securing a perfect and regular feed of letters to the die or printer and especially given the gears.

in securing the regular even movement of a positively driven belt of sufficient width to answer the requirements of a machine of this character.

In overcoming the difficulties heretofore experienced I now make use of awide carrying belt provided along the center line with grommets or eyelets and on the driving shaft I mount three pulleys the two outer ones being wide and loose on the' shaft and the center one being narrow and fast on the shaft, with pins or projections on its periphery for cooperating with the grommets or eyelets'in the belt, whereby the belt is driven positively and the printing mechanism maybe timed to strike at exactly the proper points on its surface. The number of grommets in the belt should of course be a multiple of the number of pins on the pulley to simplify the proportions At the lower edge of the belt and mounted on the frame is afixed guard M extending throughout the Whole length of the machine and preferably having along its upper edge a supplemental inclined guard an adapted to prevent the rising of the letters after being positioned, said guard being rough finished to retard the letters as-will presently appear.

Any available power may be employed to drive the machine, but I prefer to employ a foot or manual power mechanism consisting of a drive wheel 0 on a shaft 0 journaled in a frame P and carrying at the inner end a small gear 19 meshing with a larger gear Q on a shaft E. This shaft B as well as the other parts of the power is in a horizontal position and I prefer to connect thesaid shaft R and drive shaft 0 by means of a flexible coupling such as a spiral spring S. Thus power'applied to the crank of the drive Wheel causes the machine to run as fast as necessary, and owing to the construction which permits of the system of gearing down the expenditure of power is very slight.

The belt is provided with cleats or ribs T extending from the upper edge down to a point lower than the upper edge of the smallest envelope which the machine can operate upon, and positioned with such relation to the die as to bring the letters to just the proper point to receive the impression and have the stamps canceled.

In the practical operation of the machine, the letters are dumped by the collectors on a table U mounted in a slightly inclined position with its lower edge just at the edge of the belt, and from the table they are allowed to drop or are faced one by one upon the belt down which they slide until coming in contact with the fixed guard, their downward movement is checked and they naturally assume a position parallel with the belt. Fric tion against the guard retards them until one of the cleats striking the upper corner forces them along beneath the die where they are properly marked. When the letter has reached its position against the guard it is the more readily. Below the belt and resting gearing between the drive pulley and die,

on the framing in any suitable manner is a wiper W, of any suitable absorbing substance and adapted to remove from the belt any ink shouldthe die happen to strike where there was no letter. The wiper extends along the belt quite a distance, but it needs be only as wide as the portion of the belt adapted to be struck by the die.

The machine as a whole it will be noted is extremely simple being composedof few and inexpensive parts. The calculations for securing the proper co-operation of the parts being simple, enable the parts to be constructed and assembled by an ordinary mechanic; hence adapting the machine for use in offices located in relatively small towns, &c.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is I 1. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with the printing die, of the inclined carrying belt, the driving pulley cooperating positively therewith, the loose, supporting and guiding pulleys at each end and whereby the proper relation of the die and belt is preserved, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with the printing die, of the inclined belt, the drive shaft having the fast pulley thereon, positively cooperating with the belt, and the loose guiding and supporting pulleys on the drive shaft at each side of the drive pulley; substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with the rotary die, of the inclined carrying belt having the central line of grommets or eyelets, the narrow drive pulley having pins or projections entering said grommets or eyelets and the loose supporting and guiding pulleys at each side of the drive pulley; substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with the rotary die, of the carrying belt inclined in a plane at right angles to its direction of movement, the drive shaft having the central drive pulley and outside loose guide pulleys, the gear wheel on the end of the drive shaft and the gear wheel meshing therewith mounted on the die shaft; substantially as described.

5. In a machine for marking letters,the combination with the die and carrying belt inclined in a plane at right angles to its direction of movement and having ribs or cleats thereon, of a fixed guard extending along the lower edge of the belt for positioning the letters and retarding them until carried forward positively by the ribs or cleats; substantially as described.

6. In a machine for marking letters, the com bination with the die and carrying belt inclined in a plane at right angles to its direction of movement, and provided with ribs or cleats, of the fixed guard along the lower edge of the belt against which the letters travel and the overhanging supplemental guard on the fixed guard; substantially as described.

7. In a machinefor marking letters, the combination with the rotary die and carrying belt inclined in a plane at right angles to its direction of movement, of the drive shaft carrying the inclined guiding and drive pulleys at one end of the belt, the intermediate bed or platen roller supported in spring pressed bearings beneath the die and gearing between the drive shaft and die; substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the character specified, the combinationwith the die shaft, of a double faced die mounted thereon and adjustable in a line between the two faces, whereby either face may be moved out into operative position; substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with the die shaft, having a squared portion thereon, of a double faced die having a rectangular opening therein longer in the direction of the faces, and fitting the rectangular portion of the shaft with means for holding either face projected; substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with theinclined belt and die, of the inking wheel cooperating with the die the inking wheel shaft mounted to move lon- 1 gitudinally in an inclined bearing and having the lower end prolonged to form ahandle extension, whereby it may be moved up away from the die; substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with the inclined belt and die, of the inking wheel cooperating with the die, the inking wheel shaft mounted to move longitudinally in an inclined bearing whereby the wheel may be moved away from the die a drive pulley keyed to said shaft and held against longitudinal movement therewith by the frame and a spring for holding the wheel in elevated position; substantially as de- 

